Health Center: Educate Yourself: Marijuana

Myth vs. Fact

When deciding whether or not to use marijuana, it's important to be informed about the impact of one's use. There is a lot of conflicting evidence out there about marijuana use and its effects that is divided into two camps: 1) that marijuana is harmless and has potential health benefits and thus should be legalized; and 2) that marijuana is harmful, causes health risks, and thus should continue to be illegal. These two camps represent the extremes of the debate, and more and more evidence is pointing towards the facts about marijuana lying somewhere in the middle.

Here are a few common myths about marijuana and facts informed by research:

Myth: Marijuana is a gateway drug.

Facts:

While it is true that often people who use hard drugs have used marijuana, it is not true that marijuana use causes hard drug use. Many other factors are at play.

Due to marijuana's accessibility, it is often the first drug used by drug users before experimenting with other drugs.

While some marijuana users may also use other illegal drugs, several studies have shown evidence that the gateway hypothesis is not true.

Myth: You can’t get addicted to marijuana.

Facts:

The risk of addiction or dependence to marijuana is lower than dependence rates for alcohol and other drugs; however, addiction or dependence to marijuana is possible.

The earlier the age people start using marijuana, the higher the risk for becoming dependent on the drug.

Myth: Smoking marijuana helps me sleep better.

Facts:

While some people report that smoking marijuana helps them fall asleep and stay asleep, the active ingredient in marijuana changes the nature and quality of sleep.

Studies have found that marijuana users experience less SWS or slow wave sleep and less REM sleep, 2 stages of sleep important to quality of sleep.

Not getting enough sleep may comprise your ability to think and remember, cause unpleasant moods, and impair the immune system.

Myth: Marijuana takes away my anxiety.

Facts:

Some marijuana users report reduction in feelings of anxiety, while some report that it increases anxiety, sometimes to the point of paranoia and fear.

There is just as much evidence showing that marijuana can induce anxiety and panic as there is evidence showing that it reduces anxiety and tension for certain people in certain settings; the effects seem to have different effects on different people.

Some studies indicate that frequent marijuana use among teens result in increased likelihood of developing anxiety and depression into adulthood.